Biometric card holder and VAT refund for tourists

[axil23]

Asking this for a family member.

She spends most of her time abroad but comes back once a year to visit family and also as she has rental income here. She spends 10 months abroad and 2 months here.

Recently she did a VAT refund for tourists which was denied by border force as she holds a Biometric residence permit. They did say that if she spends most of her time abroad then she is entitled to it and can write back in with a explanation. But they also cautioned her that this could impact her Residence permit which she has had for 30 odd years. I thought that only if she doesn't come back for more than 2 years does that get suspended?

She has a house and income here but is retired so spends her time in warner climates. Can the VAT refund impact her Residence permit?

[zimba]

I do not understand how someone wants to hold 'settled status in the UK' then demand a VAT refund. Non-EU residents mostly cannot ask for VAT refunds like tourists unless they will be leaving the UK for more than 12 months. See: https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-shopping/taxfree-shopping

Also it is important for her to know that given she does not live here permanently, the border force can revoke her ILR on return to the UK as occasional visits to the UK will not retain the settled status

[axil23]

Actually its a quite a big amount of refund on something she has been saving up for. Its an amount that would make sense for her to stay out of the country for 12 months for. She is retired and it doesn't matter to her is she stays away for a year to get the VAT refund.

But can this effect her residence permit? Her family lives here, she pays tax and has a house.

She has to be here once every two years to keep the permit alive right?

[zimba]

But can this effect her residence permit? Her family lives here, she pays tax and has a house.
She has to be here once every two years to keep the permit alive right?

I already explained how her ILR can be affected, ignoring the VAT issue. Having a home or family here is not relevant either.

Also it is important for her to know that given she does not live here permanently, the border force can revoke her ILR on return to the UK as occasional visits to the UK will not retain the settled status